HTFM...

Helene the Fighting Machine!!!

Hope 4 Helene


But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

Monday, November 29, 2010

Thank-You!!!

"Thank-You" for coming out and the yummy lunch! I am so sorry for the goof up...if you know what I mean! Hope you found a great tree, and happy decorating! Tis the season!

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

A "52!"

About 6:30 last night I got a call from Dr. Kash, my oncologist. Needless to say, I was really nervous. I had blood work yesterday, saw the dr. and had 2 nasty shots in my butt. He called letting me know that the blood work came back really good- especially something they call cancer markers. I measured a 52 which is down quite a bit from before. I think I had highs in the 80's and am usually in the 60's. A normal non-cancer person would measure in the 20's I think. So- he was happy with the report and wanted to share the info. before he went out of town. This really impressed me. He was still at the hospital and took the time to call me to let me know the good news. He feels that these nasty shots are working- as they are estorgen inhibitors. My cancer is estrogen positive- so to not feed the tumors- I can't have any estrogen in my body.

Happy Thanksgiving to all- celebrate the little things.
xoxo,
HTFM

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Post Surgery

Hey there,

I am home already! The surgery went well and the dr. said I could go home if I wanted to. Soooo- home I am with plenty of pain killers. At least I think the dr. said surgery went well- I don't remember much. Rob, Linda and Denise joined me for the hospital party at Edward's. They would know more. I thought it would be best to sleep in my own bed and see Tyler. We have a standing appointment on Thursday night to watch Mentalist together. I sooo enjoy our time together- and I don't know how much longer he wants to hang with his Mom....

The operating room was quite intimidating! 6 huge computer screens were set up at the end of the operating table. I think it was a florascope (sp?) The dr. works at Edward's and Northwestern and is very confident in what he is doing. Called this his favorite surgery- a Kyphoplasty. I asked him if he had a good night's sleep and a good breakfast....his response "I went to church, too". Gotta love a dr. with a sense of humor.

Molly Jo is being a major PITA. She is not crazy about me sleeping in the middle of the day and when she does settle down, she likes to lay on top of me which causes mucho back pain today. She saves this shrill, sharp bark for me and does it right in my ear. Such a doll. Rob took her for a walk to "get the stink outta her." (Lynn's favorite saying)

Well- gotta go find my narcotics- and no I won't share.....

Thanks for your positive thoughts and prayers.
xoxo, HTFM

Monday, November 15, 2010

The b'day that just continues!

I received a great box of goodies from Kim who lives in AZ and started this whole blog thing....It is so much fun to receive gifts after one's actual b'day!

Tonight is the final celebration with Toni, Laura and Doreen. We always treat each other on our b'days. I am so fortunate to have such a huge circle of friends.

Thursday I am suppose to go in for back surgery. The dr. will drill holes in my vertebrae and fill the space with cement. YIKES! I will be over night at Edward's for pain control and to let the "cement" set. I don't even want to think about the next back surgery on my lower back- that will be more invasisve. Hopefully I will be able to get off a lot of these pain killers. I feel like a walking pharmacy sometimes.

Once again, thanks for all of your support and prayers.
xoxo,
HTFM

Saturday, November 6, 2010

So Overwhelmed!!!!!

This whole b-day celebration has gotten out of hand!!! I am so humbled by the surprise party that Linda and the Bunco Babes had for me today! I don't even know where to begin! I know I will leave something out...... I am so tired but soooo excited with my celebration today!!!!

Linda, Tia and Sharon wanted to take me out for a b-day lunch, Sharon picked me up and we went to get Linda and lo and behold!!! The whole crowd was there, the house decorated to the nines (with pink!) there was food galore and wonderful presents to boot. A pink lit flamego joined us, along with balloons, flowers, pink paper balls hanging from the celing, a pink pig dressed with a boa- the list goes on. 2 Bunco Babes were missed- yet Kaleigh and Shea were able to party with us. (Kaleigh is my neice and Shea is Tia's daughter) The group-Tia, Alice, Kelli, Lisa C, Lisa G, Jenn, Sarah, Leane, Jana, Terese, Linda, Sharon, Meg (who did I leave out?) went in and got me the coolest shoes ever! Even Tyler thinks they are "swag." They are pink patent leather Dansko shoes that have the b/c symbol on them. I told them that the shoes reminded me of a little girl getting her first pair of "Mary Janes.". Sooo totally cool and comfortable. Everyone gave me some kind of "pink" or sparkly ornament- then Linda had a 3 foot bag filled to the top with every imaginable gift- she went overboard this year! The sweetest thing is a silver bracelet that is engraved, "chance made us sisters, hearts made us friends." That about covers it all.

I went home with tons of food, which of course the boys tried to devour as soon as I walked in.

This party is so memorable and I am so thankful for my family and friends. I need to celebrate every day as a "birthday" am am grateful for the funs times I am able to have. It was so nice to be together on a Saturday afternoon- we have such hectic lives with family, work and obligations- that we need to take time and be together. Getting a little teary eyed- and Molly Jo is fighting for my attention once again.
xoxo,
HTFM

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Lisa G the cooking Machine!

Lisa G is such a hoot! She just complains that she can't cook- what a bunch of hooey! Lisa brought dinner over for my family and we ate her beef for 3 days!!!!! Of course the brownies went in 2 days. You go girl!

This week has been one of birthday celebrations! Rob and Tyler celebrated last night with me as Rob has parent conferences tonight. Jean-Marie treated me to lunch today and Mollie Jo treated me to a nap this afternoon. I just can't get over this tiredness. I go in for treatment tomorrow but I am hoping my energy level will improve.

I will be having back surgery on the 18th- the neuro surgeon will drill holes in 2 of my vertebrae and put in cement to block the tumors from the nerves. I am getting quite nervous about this procedure. If I can get off some of the pain meds I may have more energy.

Here's to celebrating more birthdays! I still get to go out for lunch on Sat. with my "peeps." A week long b-day party!!!
xoxo,
HTFM

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Time has gone by...

Hey there,

Seems like I have been so busy lately that I haven't had time to blog. Karen, my former next door neighbor from Naperville, came up to visit this past weekend from Kentucky. Karen was my friend who got us the house in Sanibel last May. I still think about how beautiful that trip was. Our boys grew up together for awhile and we have shared some great times together. So this past weekend was quite the whirlwind. The "girls" went out Friday night and then couples came over Saturday night. Our get-together turned in to my own b-day party! Liz, Holly, Karen, Denise and Julie were so generous and gave me fabulous gifts. I was overwhelmed. Thanks to Denise and Rob, things got cleaned up and we got to bed by midnight- which was pretty late for me. I miss Karen already! More on presents later. I have to much to tell!

My energy level is not quite what I hoped it would be. When I don't have to work or have a dr. appointment, I seem to sleep like a teenager- one day until noon! I don't like this aspect of this disease as I feel I am wasting time by sleeping. I did make it through today and yesterday without a nap. So maybe slowly I will regain some energy. I go to the Cancer Center this Friday for shots, an infusion of Avastin and an infusion of a bone drug. No chemo!!!!!! I still experience daily nose bleeds from the Avastin. That I can live with.

The wonderful people at work had a little b-day party for me yesterday. What a surprise! Karen- who retired- came in to help celebrate. She knows me so well.....she gave me a Bear's t-shirt that says "Real Bear Fans wear Pink"! I think Judy was the instigator of the beautiful pink and white pearl bracelet that is the Breast Cancer bracelet from Zales. I love presents! Barbara found this really cool b/c pin that has some funk to it!

Gotta go...Rob brouight home dinner- Ribs! Yum

xoxo,
HTFM